CHILD DETERRENT ZIPPER CLOSURE (as amended)

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to resealable zippers or reclosures for flexible packaging which is child-deterrent or child-resistant. This zipper or reclosure includes two profiles, wherein at least one profile includes a tab created from flange material between upper and lower sets of interlocking elements. The user grasps the tab to separate the two profiles in order to open the packaging. The flange may alternatively include a finger aperture or a finger slit.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/691,648, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to closures, reclosures or zippers for flexible packaging which is child-deterrent or child-resistant. In particular, a profile of the closure, reclosure or zipper includes tabs which are partially cut from the flange and includes upper and lower press-to-close interlocking elements, on respective upper and lower portions of the flange, for engagement with the opposing profile.

Description of the Prior Art

The prior art of child-resistant packaging is well-developed. An example is disclosed in PCT/US2018/44941, entitled “Child Resistant Reclosable Bags,” filed on Aug. 2, 2018. Further examples are disclosed in PCT/US2019/34143 entitled “Running Tab Lock in a Transverse Direction (TD) Application,” filed on May 28, 2019; PCT/US2016/061979 entitled “Zipper Child Deterrent Closure With Three Web/Flange Design,” filed on Nov. 15, 2016; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,287,063 entitled “Child Resistant Reclosable Bags,” issued on May 14, 2019. However, further developments and improvements are sought, particularly with respect to press-to-close zippers or reclosures. In particular, developments and improvements in applications such as child-resistant packaging for dishwasher pods or medication are sought.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a child-resistant or child-deterrent closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly as a press-to-close zipper, for flexible packaging.

It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which is not intuitively obvious for a child to operate.

It is therefore a still further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily operated by an adult.

It is therefore a still further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily, economically and reliably manufactured.

This and other objects are attained by providing a closure, reclosure or zipper, typically configured as a press-to-close zipper, with a tab created from flange material on one of the profiles, between upper and lower sets of interlocking elements. The closure, reclosure or zipper is opened by a user grasping the tab and pulling apart the first and second profiles, thereby releasing the press-to-close interlocking elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side plan view of a two-piece press-to-close zipper or reclosure of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is an end view of a two-piece press-to-close zipper or reclosure of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the tab extended so as to overlap with the lower interlocking elements in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of a semi-circular portion of the top flange around the tab.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a further embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein an aperture for finger insertion is provided.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a still further embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a slit for finger insertion is provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, one sees that FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a two-piece press-to-close zipper 10 (or similar closure or reclosure), typically made of a polymeric material, with a first profile 11 and a second profile 13. The first profile 11 includes first upper interlocking element 12 and first lower interlocking element 14 on respective upper and lower edges of the first flange 16. Adjacent to, or partially overlapping, the upper interlocking element 12 is a semi-circular or similarly shaped (e.g., U-shaped or C-shaped) slit 20 cutting through the first flange 16, thereby forming tab 22, with a portion of the tab 22 remaining integral with or attached to first flange 16 or first profile 11. Similarly, second profile 13 includes second flange 18 with second upper and lower interlocking elements 15, 17. First and second press-to-close upper interlocking elements 12, 15 interlock with each other in the closed configuration of the press-to-close zipper 10. Similarly, first and second press-to-close lower interlocking elements 14, 17 interlock with each other in the closed configuration of the press-to-close zipper 10. While some configurations may include a tab structure on both first and second flanges 16, 18, typically the tab structure is included on only one flange. When the zipper 10 is incorporated into a bag, package, pouch or similar container (not shown), second profile 13 is attached below the top of a bag mouth at a point on the joining flange, the upper half of the zipper 10 is attached to the bag by a sealing flange or guiding and sealing flange extension 24 below the first lower interlocking element 14 (see FIG. 3). This sealing arrangement creates a shearing action between the first and second profiles 11, 13 when both bag walls are separated, as when opening a typical bag, the shearing action preventing or inhibiting the first and second profiles 11, 13 from separating and the zipper 10 (and thus the bag, package, pouch or similar container) from opening.

Alternatively, first flange 16 of first profile 11 could also be attached to the walls of the bag, package, pouch or similar container between the first upper and lower interlocking elements 12, 14 as long as the seal between the first flange 16 and the bag wall is sufficiently below the inverted tab 22 to allow the tab 22 to be grasped. The lower zipper half of first profile 11 could be attached by an upper flange, and may, in some embodiments, be attached to the guiding and sealing flange extension 24 as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates the tab 22 extended down to a point where it overlaps the lower interlocking element 14. This locks the free end of the tab 22 into the lower bottom interlocking element 14, increasing the difficulty of opening the zipper 10 due to the need to first unlock the overlapped portion of the tab 22 in order to be able to subsequently grasp the tab 22 and open the press-to-close zipper 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates that a semi-circular portion 23 of the first flange 16 around the tab 22 (inwardly of the slit 20 and outwardly of tab 22) can be removed thereby forming a gap between a portion of the tab 22 and the first flange 16 in order make accessing the tab 22 easier. FIG. 3 further illustrates the guiding and sealing flange extension 24 below the lower interlocking element 14 of the first flange 16. The guiding and sealing flange extension 24 providing attachment points for the zipper 10 as well as aiding in guiding the zipper 10 during production of packages.

This reclosure or zipper 10 therefore includes a tab 22 created from material from first flange 16 between first upper and lower interlocking elements 12, 14.

Having no upper flanges to grasp, opening the zipper 10 is non-intuitive for operation by a child. The sealing of the zipper 10 to the package walls is done in a way that pulling on the bag walls above or below the zipper 10 will not open the zipper 10.

However, when the bag, package or pouch (and zipper 10) is in a closed or interlocked configuration, an adult may grasp and pull tab 22 so as to separate the first and second upper interlocking elements 12, 15 from each other, and the first and second lower interlocking elements 14, 17 from each other, thereby allowing the first and second profiles 11, 13 to separate from each other and to allow the bag, package or pouch to open. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 typically requires no removal of material from the zipper 10 during manufacture, thereby eliminating or minimizing waste and the need to dispose of slugs.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternatives wherein the first flange 16 includes a finger aperture 30 (see FIG. 4, which may include a second finger aperture 31, shown in phantom, offset from first finger aperture 30, on the second flange 18) or a finger slit 32 (FIG. 5). This allows a user to insert a finger through the aperture 30 or 31 or finger slit 32 and force the first and second profiles 11, 13 apart (i.e., separating upper first and second interlocking elements 12, 15 from other and separating lower first and second interlocking elements 14, 17 from each other) thereby opening the zipper 10 a manner that would not be expected to be intuitive for a child.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking element; and a tab below the at least one upper interlocking element.
 2. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1, wherein the tab is partially cut from the flange.
 3. The zipper or reclosure of claim 2 wherein the tab is formed by a semi-circular cut, with a portion of the tab remaining attached or integral with the flange or at least one profile.
 4. The zipper or reclosure of claim 3 wherein the semi-circular cut is U-shaped or C-shaped.
 5. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 further including a lower flange extension below the at least one lower interlocking element.
 6. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein a portion of material between a portion of the tab and the flange is removed.
 7. The zipper or reclosure of claim 6 wherein the portion of the material that is removed is semi-circular thereby forming a gap between at least a portion of the flange and at least a portion of the tab.
 8. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the at least one upper interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking element are press-to-close interlocking elements.
 9. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the tab overlaps the at least one lower interlocking element
 10. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the zipper or reclosure is made from polymeric material.
 11. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking element; and a finger aperture in the flange.
 12. The zipper or reclosure of claim 11 wherein at least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element are press-to-close interlocking elements.
 13. A zipper or reclosure, including: a first profile including a first upper interlocking element and a first lower interlocking element; a first flange between the first upper interlocking element the first lower interlocking element; a second profile including a second upper interlocking element and a second lower interlocking element; a second flange between the second upper interlocking element the second lower interlocking element; and a first finger aperture in the first flange.
 14. The zipper or reclosure of claim 13 wherein the first upper and lower interlocking elements and the second upper and lower interlocking elements are press-to-close interlocking elements.
 15. The zipper or reclosure of claim 13 wherein the second flange includes a second finger aperture.
 16. The zipper or reclosure of claim 15 wherein the first finger aperture is offset from the second finger aperture.
 17. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking element; and a finger slit in the flange.
 18. The zipper or reclosure of claim 17 wherein the at least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element are press-to-close interlocking elements.
 19. A zipper or reclosure, including: a first profile including a first upper interlocking element and a first lower interlocking element; a first flange between the first upper interlocking element the first lower interlocking element; a second profile including a second upper interlocking element and a second lower interlocking element; a second flange between the second upper interlocking element the second lower interlocking element; and a finger slit in the first flange.
 20. The zipper or reclosure of claim 19 wherein the first upper and lower interlocking elements and the second upper and lower interlocking elements are press-to-close interlocking elements 